Networking in America

This week in we watched the "Big i n Japan" episode on How to make it in America. This episode displays the importance of networking, and the possible doors that can open if you are a little more aggressive. It also displays how many opportunities we have in one day to network and meet new people. Beginning of the episode, Cam and Ben are playing basketball. Not playing for fun, but yes you guessed it, to network! While playing, Cam was doing a lot of trash talking trying to spark conversation in the game. Cam also shows something else that's important in the networking and business world, and that is working together with your partner/team. Cam fails at being a team player (business partner) by passing the ball Ben for an open shot. Cam stakes the shot, missing the shot and causing them to lose the game. After the game, the guys are chatting it up as they are walking down the New York streets, and here comes another networking opportunity. Do they talk it? Ben points out and explains to Cam that the guy walking up the street is the successful designer that Ben kept trying to call. The guy now has his own clothing line and he’s doing well for himself. Ben is a little hesitant about approaching the guy, but not Cam. Cam rushes over to the guy to talk business, and to network. The guy doesn’t really have time to talk to the two about their jean collection and making excuses to get out of the conversation. No worries, Cam is here to save the day. Due to Cam being a little aggressive and offer the guy out for coffee, Ben and Cam were able to sit down and talk to him about their potential collection. Later in the episode, Ben and Cam go to pick up their jean sample for a meeting they have with a buyer later that day.  Long story short, the boys get in to in because Ben does not like the jeans and does not want to attend the meeting. Cam ends up taking the jeans and telling Ben he going to go to the meeting with or without him. At the meeting Cam did a networking no no. He did not have any business cards, or introduce himself to the other designers that were waiting to meet the buyer. If he would have taken that extra step, to push along his information, he could have possibly had other doors open for him. Ben did show up and they both met with the buyer. The jeans were not ideal for the buyer, but he did take interest into the shirt Ben had on. It was a shirt Ben made while he was in high school. They had to money and time to create the order the buyer was asking for, but the boys took the offer. What will they do to save this opportunity?!